Directions

Cake:

1Add the cocoa and boiling water to a mixing bowl. Stir until combined. Add sugar and butter, mix in until the sugar starts to dissolve.

2Add the eggs, vanilla and sour cream. Blend in.

3Add the salt, baking soda, and flour. Blend until thoroughly mixed. Cake batter will be runny.

4Grease and flour 2 8-inch cake pans cookie sheet. Pour cake batter into pan. Set timer for 10 minutes. Then carefully sprinkle the cake topping between both cakes over the tops.

5Bake in a 350-degree oven for about 30 minutes or until a tester comes out clean. Cool.

Cheesecake:

1Combine sugar and cream cheese in a mixer bowl fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat until sugar is thoroughly incorporated. Add the vanilla and almond extract. Add the eggs one at a time and mix until thoroughly combined.

2Using one of the same pans you baked the cakes in, trace a circle around the pan on parchment paper. Place inside of pan, pressing the edges up so it fits tightly to the bottom. Pour batter in pan.

3Bake at 325 degrees for 30 – 35 minutes. Cheesecake will puff slightly in the center when done. When the cheesecake is done run a sharp knife around the edge of the cheesecake in the pan to loosen it from the sides. (this will help to prevent the cheesecake from cracking) Leave the cheesecake in the oven with the door cracked to cool.

Truffle:

1Soften cream cheese. Melt the broken chocolate pieces for up to 1 minute in the microwave. Let cool.

2Add the cream cheese, powdered sugar, almond extract and chocolate to your mixer bowl. Beat until thoroughly mixed together. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until you can easily roll into balls.

3Crush the Waffeletten cookies on a piece of waxed paper.

4Roll the cream cheese into balls a little bigger than sweet cherries and then roll into the crushed cookies. Refrigerate, covered until ready to use.

Frosting:

1Heat whipping cream to a boil. Add cocoa to your mixing bowl and pour whipped cream over it. Stir well to blend. Let the mixture cool.

2Add butter a tablespoon at a time. Add vanilla and salt.

3Add confectioners sugar and whip until the desired consistency. (about 5 minutes)

Assembly:

1Place one of the cakes on the cake plate with the cookies up. Spread a layer of frosting over the top.

2Add the cheesecake layer on top of the frosting.

3Add the remaining cake layer.

4Spread a thin layer of frosting around the outside of the cake to crumb coat it. Refrigerate cake for 30 minutes.

5Spread frosting on the cake sides.

6Pipe an edge around the bottom using a star tip.

7Pipe stars around the top edge and place a truffle on each one.

8Refrigerate cake until ready to serve, but I would take it out at least 45 minutes before serving.